 |
|
|
|
|
||||
|
Fax on location of Burail jail escapees
Drunk at new workplace!
An official from Haryana posted at Burail jail turned up at the jail after consuming liquor at 2 a.m. on Tuesday. This was before formal orders to post him in Chandigarh were passed by the Administration. Sources confirmed the incident and said he was turned back by the guards at the jail. Formal orders were issued on Tuesday afternoon. He was reprimanded by senior officials. Chandigarh, January 28 The existence of such a fax message was confirmed by three officials, who refused to say anything further, saying for operational reasons it was being kept a secret. Sources said Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited had been approached by certain officials to know about the origin of the fax message. It would take some extensive monitoring of the telephone number on which the fax machine had been installed. It would also entail checking of records of thousands of incoming calls. The fax number of the Burail jail was connected to a German exchange called the ‘E-10-B’ and this exchange had the facility of monitoring incoming calls. Sources said this had to be activated in advance. Fax machines had a system of giving the telephone number of the sender at the top of the page. This could be erased by doing adjustments in the fax machine. The fax message received here also did not have a fax number of the location. Officials were tight-lipped about the contents of the fax. Sources said the fax message claimed to give a location of the three undertrials. This message could work as double-edged sword as this could have been sent to mislead the investigating teams. It would take more than three days to do a final check on the location. Sources also ruled out that the fax was sent by some module of the Intelligence Bureau. This had been ruled out as it would have preferred to send a fax to its own office and not of the Chandigarh
Administration. |
|
‘Khurpa’ used to dig the
tunnel
Chandigarh, January 28 “The pattern of digging indicates that the ‘khurpa’ must have been used to dig the tunnel,” a source told Chandigarh Tribune adding that the use of a machine, however, could not be ruled out. The police is also looking for an electrical device which might have been used for digging the tunnel. The engineering and forensic experts are determining the exact measurements of the tunnel and are taking its digital photos and videos to look for small details. The work on the second tunnel by the forensic experts would start after a few days, the sources said. The police is taking the assistance of forensic scientists, who cracked the Parliament attack case, in identifying those who made calls within the jail compound. Sources said it was possible to locate from where the calls are terminating after going through the logs of the mobile phones. A team of scientists again went inside the tunnel to establish if it might have been used for the escape and confirmed it. The sources said the scientists had instructed the police to keep the exit point of the tunnel open during the day to look for the clues as the tunnel was still muddy because it was raining since three days when Hawara and others escaped from the jail. Experts today confirmed that the loose earth taken out from the tunnel had been adjusted in the compound itself as its level was found seven or eight inches higher than the approved design. This was confirmed when the engineers tried to locate the manhole, which was found hidden seven or eight inches below its approved level. The engineering experts also confirmed that they disposed of the soil in the muddy compound. They said seven or eight inches below the surface level should have had gravels but were not found in the compound of the barrack No seven of Hawara in the Burail jail. The scientists are, however, waiting for reports of several soil tests. They estimated that the loose earth taken out from the tunnel would have been around two truck load which could easily be adjusted in the small lawn of the barrack if pressed continuously. The scientists are also waiting for the soil to dry up to record the footprints of those who might have travelled in the fields which Hawara and others are believed to have crawled through. The shoe marks of Hawara are also being studied as one of the pairs of the four escapees is lying in the barrack. The police has taken the pair of the shoe into its custody to use it for tracking down Hawara. Forensic scientists in the country have developed a module for the purpose. Chandigarh, January 28 The police team investigating the jail-break case also wanted to question Pakistani spy Abid Mehmood lodged in the Burail jail along with three other inmates — Sher Singh, Subeg Singh and Nand Singh. The four were also remanded in police custody till February 2. Seeking police remand of Gill, the public prosecutor argued that police interrogation of Gill was necessary as he had confessed that he used to interact with Hawara and others in the jail. The book “The Great Escapes” allegedly found from the residence of Gill has a chapter ‘Tunnel to Freedom’, which has several marked and highlighted
paragraphs. The tunnel found in the jail also corresponds with the tunnel depicted in the chapter. On the other hand, the defence counsel argued Gill was a jail officer and that was the reason he was in possession of the book. “He has 200 books in his library and this particular book was just one of them,” argued the counsel. |
||
|
Minister rues sorry state of
jails
Chandigarh, January 28 “At least 175-feet long part of a wall of the Ludhiana jail has crumbled and the Jalandhar jail is 150-year-old. The Faridkot jail is almost non-existent,” Punjab Jail Minister Malkit Singh Birmi told reporters here outside the Burail jail after a visit today. The Central Government had extended a Rs 25 crore grant to the Punjab Government for improving the jails of the state, but the state was not in a position to spare a matching grant of Rs 6 crore, the minister said. The minister was accompanied by Additional Director-General of Police (Jails)
A.P. Bhatnagar and DIG (Jails) S.K. Dutta during his visit. Expressing concern over the condition of jails in Punjab noticed in the wake of the escape of
Hawara, the minister had called a meeting of all Jail Superintendents here to discuss how the security could be improved in the jails of the state. The minister also conceded that the ratio of jail staff to the strength of jain inmates was very adverse as per the norms. He said the jails were bursting at the seams. It was not possible for the inmates to have escaped from the Burail jail without the connivance of the jail administration and others within the jail, he added. The minister said it was easy to pass through the tunnel that was dug in the jail. It was not possible to flow the soil through seven taps fitted in the barrack No. 7, he added.
|
||
|
Procedural confusion delays
bill payment scheme
Chandigarh, January 28 The Chandigarh Administration and the Department of Posts were in the process of making a final announcement regarding depositing of bills, but for absence of financial arrangement it could not materialise. But now the dispute has been reduced to how the Administration will pay to the Department of Posts. The Department of Posts has suggested that it will deduct Rs 5 per bill it collects and deposit the rest of money. The Chandigarh Administration has suggested that since money from bill collection is deposited straight in the consolidated fund of India there can be no reduction from that amount at the hands of the Department of Posts. The Administration says the Department of Posts has to raise a separate bill for the work and to get reimbursement. The Postal authorities say this will add to paper work. The Administration says it is just out sourcing and the
proper way is that the Department of Posts raises a bill for the work done.
Now the Government of India will decide whether the Department of Posts can deduct money from amount meant for the consolidated fund of India or not. The Postal authorities feel since they and the Chandigarh Administration are governed by the Central Government, decision in this regard should not be a problem. Sources in the Administration say raising a bill means a few more papers, but it makes it much easier to tally accounts for budgeting. Had the scheme come through consumers would have been able to deposit bills in any of the 40 post offices in the city. Meanwhile, the Chandigarh Administration has handed over the delivery of about 50,000 power bills to the Department of Posts from the present billing cycle. For this the Administration will be paying Rs 3 per bill to the Department of Posts. About one lakh bills are generated every month. The rest of bills will be delivered by the Electricity Department as usual. |
|
HUDA nets Rs 30 cr from
auction
Panchkula, January 28 The auction, which continued till late in the
night, saw an overwhelming response from the bidders with HUDA netting an amount of over Rs 30 crore in one of the biggest auction held by the authority. And to the surprise of HUDA, the commercial sites in the Mansa Devi Complex evoked an overwhelming response. The other commercial property was also well taken by the buyers. In view of the auction, a large number of residents thronged the HUDA office--the venue of the auction--and a virtual traffic jam was witnessed outside the office. HUDA had put to auction 94 commercial sites in several sectors, including in Sectors 2,3,4,6,8,910,11,12,14 and Sectors 16,17,19,20,21,25 and the Mansa Devi Complex(MDC). Similarly, four clinic sites in Sectors 15 and 26 and five nursing home sites in Sectors 25 and 26 were auctioned. As many as eight school sites for the
construction of primary and higher secondary schools were also put to auction. It may be recalled that the
property prices had been on a rise in the township with HUDA netting about Rs 50 crore through the auction of two shopping malls recently. |
|
Bollywood stars descend on city
Chandigarh, January 28 In Chandigarh to screen the film for a select gathering at Fun Republic, Pooja admitted that the import of mystical melodies from Pakistan helped the film's cause. "I went all the way to collect pieces of music from the repertory of Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. 'Lagan lagi', the song that is reigning the charts now, is actually a 100-year-old melody which has been rendered by Rehmat Ali Khan." Besides good music by Ali Azmat and Rehmat Ali, ''Paap'' thrives on its cast, including John Abraham and Udita Goswami, who earlier shared space on the ramp. The film brings together a rich range of talent — from Dr Mohan Agashe who strikes serious chords in the film that rests Buddhist philosophy to the 10-year-old Madan, a street child from Mumbai, who justifies his role as the Lama. John and Udita keep the love story going to strengthen the commercial aspect. Incidentally, everyone enjoyed working with Pooja. John said, "The sensitivity that Pooja had etched out in my character was enough for me to take the plunge. The script and the locale is so significant that everything else is peripheral and dispensable." As for Pooja, John was a natural choice, given his ability to surrender to the director. She explains, "He has no preconceived notions. He can be wonderfully vulnerable. For my film I wanted a man who could make love look as it is — pure and undemanding. 'Paap' is a love story that does not take the nostalgic sacrificial route, but allows room for choices. Udita was chosen because she had no screen presence. By deliberately getting her to speak less and emote more, I ensured the mysterious element that scripted the sensual story for us." Breathtakingly beautiful Spiti adds more credence to the script woven around gompas. Pooja had, in fact, consciously chosen Spiti to structure a new world within the one that exists in India. "Spiti reflects the friction between tradition and modernity. Also lack of resources inspired us to innovate. We went looking for the Buddish culture and found ourselves enraptured with Spiti," said Pooja. Even for John and Udita, the joy of emoting in earthy environs of Spiti was inspiring. No wonder they made efforts to ensure that sensuality, the dominant theme of the film, appeared aesthetic. Udita even learnt swimming so she could somersault under water while Anuradha Paudwal rendered the enchanting song,
"Intezaar."
|
|
Country Club membership fee
may be refunded
Mohali, January 28 Embroiled in controversy and an alleged politico-bureaucratic tussle, Country Club, barely four years since its inauguration, is today in a state of neglect. Its 700-odd members, promised the world, have been left high and dry. The club management stated that the club has been caught in the middle of an alleged ego clash between the then MD of the corporation, Mr G.S. Pirzada, and the then Minister for Cooperation, Mr R.S. Brahmpura. The club, built on over 3.5 acres of prime industrial land in the ELTOP Complex in Phase VIII, hit the headlines in early 2001, when it was alleged that the corporation, which managed the ELTOP Complex, had given the land on a 99-year lease to the club on a throwaway rent of Rs 20,000 per month, following which the lease deed was cancelled in December 2003 by the Board of Directors of the corporation. The club had, by then, made 700 members under nine categories and each member had paid over Rs 20,000 for the membership. The club was to have a unique sports complex, other than dining and recreational facilities. A squash court, a swimming pool and a bowling alley were planned for the club. But till now, the club, in a semi-constructed state, has only a health club, a badminton court and a restaurant. ‘‘I go to the badminton courts almost daily, but other than that, there is nothing much to do there. There has been no talk of the club management returning our membership money,’’
said a member Mr Manmohan Singh. The club management feels that it has lost in the bargain. ‘‘We have invested lakhs on the infrastructure here, but have virtually no returns. Only the bar and the health club are operational now,’’said the manager of the club, Mr M.P. Zacharia. Stating that there was no foul play in the club getting the land in Mohali, Mr Zacharia explained that ELTOP wanted to set up a world class-club in Mohali and after advertising in newspapers and negotiations, it
it was decided to rent out an existing club building to Country Club at a rent of Rs 20,000 per month for the first two years, with the rent going up to Rs 80,000 per month from the third year onwards with a provision of 5 per cent annual increase. ‘‘The club is running branches in over 15 places in India successfully. The saddest part is that this was the second club to be opened by Mr Rajiv Reddy, Managing Director-cum-Chairman of the Country Club India Limited,’’
added Mr Navin Joshi, accounts manager at the club. ‘‘Regarding the members, all I can say at this stage is that once it is finally decided that we are closing shop, we will refund every member of the membership fee,’’
assured Mr Zacharia. |
|
Volunteers to be trained in AIDS-control
methods
Chandigarh, January 28 “Though the states in the north fall in low-prevalence category but it is essential that health workers along with volunteers working in the target intervention programmes here must be sent to learn from the remarkable work done being in the areas where the epidemic has assumed alarming proportions,” stressed Mr Subhash Hira, Programme Leader from the World Bank Institute on HIV/AIDS. A World Bank team led by Ms Sandra Rosehouse, today reviewed the AIDS Control Programme being run by the societies in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. She was accompanied by senior officials from the World Bank and the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). While stressing the need for better capacity building, Mr Hira felt that an arrangement should be worked out where volunteers from the problem areas can be invited here to share their experiences with the staff and volunteers so as bring efficiency and better coverage. He said this was very essential to help these states maintain their low prevalence status and keep the situation under control. Mr Hira, also suggested that the three AIDS Control Societies instead of working in isolation should have a central programme for better coordination and sharing of information. “At present each one of them is sending their Annual Action Plan to NACO individually but I feel we could achieve better results if they prepare a joint plan,” he remarked. The World Bank team also felt that there should be better linkages with private doctors and staff in the health sector and NGO volunteers, as it would go a long way in capacity building. The officials and staff of the three societies too felt that some kind of mechanism should be evolved where data about all the HIV and AIDS patients approaching private doctors should be passed on to them, so as to have a clearer picture of the problem, which was more of a development rather than a mere health issue. Ms Rosehouse, while recommending demedicalisation of the AIDS programmes, felt that efforts should be made to take these out of the hospitals to the communities so that people can feel comfortable, without the fear of stigma and ostracisation. |
|
Pramod fighting a losing
battle
Chandigarh, January 28 Having undergone a kidney transplant surgery at the PGI’s Renal Transplant Centre about eight months ago, he is unable to arrange money for medicines which he is required to take for another one year. “He requires almost Rs 80,000 to be able to take the essential immunosuppressive and antihypertensive drugs for the survival of the transplanted kidney,” said doctors treating him. It has been more than a year since Pramod, along with his wife and parents has been putting up at the Janta serai in the PGI. “Since we cannot afford to buy medicines due to our poor financial position I fear my father’s effort to save my life by donating one of his kidney might also go waste,” says the disheartened Pramod. While his wife, Kiran, is with him, their two children have been putting up with Pramod’s brother in their native village. He says being the owner of a small holding and making a living through agriculture there is no way by which this family can raise the money for the post surgery medicines. Pramod requires Rs 10,000 per month for buying medicines. All those interested in helping Pramod can get in touch with the PGI Public Relation Officer at 2747585, extension-6003, or meet the family directly in Room No.18 at the Janta serai in the PGI. |
|
Book on Lajpat Rai
released
Chandigarh, January 28 He also went through The Tribune files of 1922 and released a book on Lala Lajpat Rai — “Lala Lajpat Rai’s Idea of India and the Communal Question: An essay in Cultural Studies”. Scholarships were also given to students of rural school. Mr Barnala was delivering a lecture on ‘’Understanding Lala Lajpat Rai in today’s context” on the birth anniversary of Sher-e-Punjab Lala Lajpat Rai. Addressing the gathering, he said, “Lalaji was a great leader of the masses and a profound visionary whose ideas on nationhood, community, secularism and industrial progress were more relevant today than ever before”. Appreciating the book by Dr Sudhir Kumar of Panjab University, Mr Barnala lauded the writer for his analysis of Lalaji’s nationalism. The constructive and socially significant work being undertaken by the local branch of the Servants of the People Society was also appreciated. Earlier, society’s Chairman Onkar Chand welcomed Mr Barnala and recontextualised Lalaji’s all-embracing vision of India. Group Captain P.S. Soni thanked the Governor for presiding over the function. Former Professor Emeritus of the PGI, Prof N.N. Wig, and Punjab University Vice-Chancellor Professor K.N. Pathak were present.
Representation in
House sought Give representation to Sikhs in the state legislature, a social worker today requested Mr Barnala. In his plea, handed over to the Governor, Mr Narinder Singh said the Sikhs were unrepresented though they had significantly contributed towards the development of the state. Claiming himself to be a recipient of the Punjab Sarkar Parman Pattar, Mr Narinder Singh said eminent Sikhs residing in the state should be nominated. He urged Mr Barnala to write to the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister for amending the Constitution for enabling the nomination of Sikhs in the state legislature. |
|
Overall
trophy goes to city police
Chandigarh, January 28 Police — Chandigarh Police; NCC — Army Wing; Scouts/Guides — Government Model Senior Secondary School, Sector 16, Chandigarh; cultural programme — K.B. DAV, Sector 7; tableau — Director, Health Services, Chandigarh; Home Guard/ Fire Brigade/ Civil Defence — Civil Defence, and overall trophy — Chandigarh Police In the essay writing competition on national integration and communal harmony for college and school students, UT Administration today awarded the first, second and third prizes to Ms Maninder Kaur Brar of the Dev Samaj College of Education, Sector 36, Mr Amanpreet Mann of DAV College, Sector 10, and Mr Gursev Singh of Government College, respectively. |
|
The Panchkula Municipal Corporation’s decision to exempt defence personnel from paying house tax and fire tax should be extended to senior citizens. With the government regularly decreasing the rate of interest on small saving schemes, including PPF, and the rise in prices of essential commodities, it is very hard for pensionless senior citizens to sustain themselves. Senior citizens should be exempted from paying income tax up to a certain annual limit — say Rs 3.5 lakh. All retirees, whether from government, semi-government, autonomous bodies or private organisations, should be entitled to pension. Interest rates on all small savings should be higher for them. These should be fixed, non-taxable and insulated against downward revision. Dr Harish Khanna, Panchkula Ban on loudspeakers being flouted Though the district administration in Patiala has banned the use of loudspeakers in the city, the orders are being flouted in DCM Colony. In a gurdwara here, loudspeakers start blaring at 5 am and continue till 7 am daily. Once a week, the din begins at 2.30 am. The gurdwara management should be asked to shift the speakers installed atop the building to inside the premises. The Community Centre opposite Central School is also a source of noise pollution. Social functions are held frequently, during which DJ music systems are played at a high volume not only during the day but also till late night. The local administration as well as the DCM authorities should make efforts to check noise pollution. Dr Anjali, Patiala Nullah a health hazard A nullah flowing through several sectors of Panchkula has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects. The repulsive odour is a big nuisance. People can be seen defecating in the vicinity of the nullah. The worst affected is Sector 12. Neither HUDA nor the Municipal Council nor the Health authorities have gauged the seriousness of the problem. The authorities should initiate immediate remedial measures like providing an underground pipeline. J.K. Mago, Panchkula Proposal not executed A proposal suggesting improvements in the Sector 20 A garden, developed by the Municipal Corporation, was submitted to the Mayor by the House Owners Welfare Society, Sector 20 A, in September, 2003. Some of the important suggestions were about the construction of more pucca pathways around the garden, providing two more rain shelters with adequate number of iron benches, besides the removal of three garbage bins placed outside the school wall. Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, MP, asked the Mayor to implement the suggestions expeditiously. However, nothing has been done in this regard. The Welfare Society urges the new Mayor to get the proposal executed without further delay. House Owners Welfare Society, Sector 20 A, Chandigarh |
|
|
Website for Dalits Chandigarh, January 28 The website also gives the names of all Scheduled Caste officers in various all-India services. |
Women pick-pockets of Sansi tribe
held
Mohali, January 28 According to the police, these women, who claim to be related to each other, belong to a larger gang of at least 10 men and eight women operating from Panchkula. The four accused, Ramo, Rani, Kunti and Preeti during their initial interrogation revealed that the men in their gang were also involved in thefts, snatching and other crimes in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali. The SHO Phase I police station, Mr Bhupinder Singh, said they had still not revealed the place where they reside but kept insisting that they live in the railway station. Giving details of their modus operandi, Mr Bhupinder Singh said one of the women would invariably follow women shoppers in crowded places and stand close to them. Sometimes they would manage to cover the purse of the woman they wanted to rob with a shawl or a dupatta and slowly, in a highly skilled manner, open the purse and take out the valuables, including the money. The were caught on a complaint lodged by Mr Darshan Singh a resident of Phase 1, who told the police patrol that his wife’s wallet was stolen by some women in the market. The police team led by the Sub-Inspector, Iqbal Singh, caught the four women from whose possession the wallet and the money was recovered. They have been booked under Sections 379/411 of the IPC and remanded in police custody for two days. |
|
Photography equipment worth 25,000 stolen
Mohali, January 28 Some fine quality lenses, camera equipment and other products are reportedly missing from Super Art Studio whose owner has lodged a complaint with the police. A case has been registered. |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | National Capital | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
